Affiliation: Department of Urology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Sexual adverse events (AEs), a major cause for discontinuing 5α-reductase inhibitor (5ARI) therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are known to occur most frequently early in therapy and appear to decline over time. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in sexual function occurring with dutasteride treatment during a 1-year follow-up period in Korean men.

Materials and methods: Using the International Index of Erectile Function, we prospectively evaluated, after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, the changes in sexual function of 55 outpatients (mean age 62.3±7.2 years) with BPH (mean volume 48.9±16.0 g) who had relatively good erectile function (EF) and were treated with dutasteride for at least 1 year.

Results: EF scores showed the most significant decrease at 1 month (p<0.01). Function gradually recovered thereafter but was still significantly decreased after 12 months of treatment (p<0.05). The scores for orgasmic function and sexual desire also showed the most significant reduction at 1 month but were restored to the baseline level at 6 months. No significant correlation was observed between changes in sexual function and prostate-specific antigen level, prostate volume, or International Prostate Symptom Scores.

Conclusions: After 1 month of treatment, dutasteride therapy resulted in a significant reduction in all investigated sexual functions. Overall, recovery in sexual function was noted at 3 months, and orgasmic function and sexual desire were restored to baseline levels at 6 months. However, EF was still significantly reduced at 12 months.

Figure 1: Changes in International Index of Erectile Functionerectile function score during 12 months of treatment.

Mentions:
We studied the changes in each domain score of the IIEF after adding dutasteride to the α-blocker treatment. The EF and overall satisfaction domain scores showed the most significant decrease at 1 month after treatment (p<0.01) and gradually recovered thereafter, but were still significantly decreased at 12 months (p<0.05). Moderate to severe ED (EF score <17) was seen in 38% of patients at 1 month after treatment and in 22% of patients at 12 months after treatment (Fig. 1, 2). The scores for intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, and sexual desire also showed the most significant reduction at 1 month after treatment, but they were restored to baseline levels at 6 months after treatment.

Figure 1: Changes in International Index of Erectile Functionerectile function score during 12 months of treatment.

Mentions:
We studied the changes in each domain score of the IIEF after adding dutasteride to the α-blocker treatment. The EF and overall satisfaction domain scores showed the most significant decrease at 1 month after treatment (p<0.01) and gradually recovered thereafter, but were still significantly decreased at 12 months (p<0.05). Moderate to severe ED (EF score <17) was seen in 38% of patients at 1 month after treatment and in 22% of patients at 12 months after treatment (Fig. 1, 2). The scores for intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, and sexual desire also showed the most significant reduction at 1 month after treatment, but they were restored to baseline levels at 6 months after treatment.

Affiliation:
Department of Urology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Sexual adverse events (AEs), a major cause for discontinuing 5α-reductase inhibitor (5ARI) therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are known to occur most frequently early in therapy and appear to decline over time. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in sexual function occurring with dutasteride treatment during a 1-year follow-up period in Korean men.

Materials and methods: Using the International Index of Erectile Function, we prospectively evaluated, after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, the changes in sexual function of 55 outpatients (mean age 62.3±7.2 years) with BPH (mean volume 48.9±16.0 g) who had relatively good erectile function (EF) and were treated with dutasteride for at least 1 year.

Results: EF scores showed the most significant decrease at 1 month (p<0.01). Function gradually recovered thereafter but was still significantly decreased after 12 months of treatment (p<0.05). The scores for orgasmic function and sexual desire also showed the most significant reduction at 1 month but were restored to the baseline level at 6 months. No significant correlation was observed between changes in sexual function and prostate-specific antigen level, prostate volume, or International Prostate Symptom Scores.

Conclusions: After 1 month of treatment, dutasteride therapy resulted in a significant reduction in all investigated sexual functions. Overall, recovery in sexual function was noted at 3 months, and orgasmic function and sexual desire were restored to baseline levels at 6 months. However, EF was still significantly reduced at 12 months.